Newcastle's young people say the regulation of licensed venues in town has gone too far and is killing the city’s once-famous nightlife.
One group is mounting a grassroots campaign to help resurrect the city’s reputation.
Angered by the recent decision by the Casino, Liquor and Gaming Control Authority to block the transfer of the Jolly Roger liquor licence to the Kensington Nightclub, more than 3800 people have put their names to an internet Facebook campaign supporting the proposed nightclub in Hunter Street.
The Newcastle Herald can reveal the Kensington Nightclub application was rejected following just six resident complaints on top of opposition from police and liquor authorities.
With such a strong show of online support, Kensington proponent Dean Crawford said he would be ‘‘talking’’ to local MPs ahead of the NSW election.
‘‘We will be trying to show them that there’s a lot of Novocastrians who have similar views to us and they’re obviously airing them,’’ he said.
The Newcastle Herald assembled six young people for their thoughts on Newcastle’s nightlife.
The nightlife jury said Newcastle needed another nightspot for variety and to improve competition and safety.
Many said door charges and drink prices at venues were going unchecked by competition.
Others said Newcastle institutions, such as the Wednesday student night, and the city’s rock reputation were waning because of many impediments to coming into town.
‘‘Woeful’’ public transport kept people out, but many on the jury supported late-night lockouts, saying they had improved safety.
They said more venues would improve passive surveillance on streets between clubs, and praised venues for having tight security and free water.
Kensington proponent Dean Crawford said he was ‘‘overwhelmed’’ by the support for more diversity in town.
‘‘No one is debating Newcastle did get out of control for a while,’’ Mr Crawford said.
‘‘But also we do not want late-night licensed venues constantly being slugged with these restrictions.
‘‘What will eventually happen is businesses will become unviable, people won’t go out, people will start moving out of Newcastle to cities and towns that do have some appeal.
‘‘Its nightlife will slowly die.’’
Mr Crawford said he would meet with stakeholders before resubmitting the application.
Australian Hotels Association Hunter president Rolly de With, who owns nearby Fannys nightclub, said Newcastle had half as many venues as it did 20 years ago and the city was struggling.
‘‘The attitude towards violence and attitude towards alcohol won’t be changed by simply restricting trading,’’ he said.
Newcastle City local area commander Superintendent Max Mitchell said he believed there were sufficient licensed premises in the city but he looked at each case on its merits.
He said it was not a question of police resources but balance between community entertainment needs and ‘‘quiet good order’’ for neighbours.
‘‘There are still too many assaults in my view, even though we still are finding a decrease,’’ Superintendent Mitchell said.
‘‘I’m tired of my officers being assaulted, being spat on and being splashed with blood.’’
Newcastle lord mayor John Tate said behaviour had improved but agreed public transport was ‘‘abysmal’’.
It is understood the state government has a late-night shuttle bus proposal in the works.
Cr Tate said the council was considering more closed-circuit television cameras to improve security.
Community campaigner Tony Brown said he represented 150 small businesses and residents in town.
He said the licensed venue market was saturated in Newcastle and his group opposed more venues because of alcohol-related violence.
Mr Brown said the rights of those few residents should outweigh the thousands of youths who came into town because a ‘‘significant proportion’’ were misbehaving.
‘‘When a minority’s bad behaviour reaches a certain level the civil rights of the many are unfortunately infringed upon.’’
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